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Say hello to the Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 – the replacement for the best-selling Lambo in history, the Gallardo. The new supercar’s brooding looks pack a more potent 601bhp V10 and Lamborghini’s first dual-clutch transmission into a lighter package that’ll eat the old Gallardo for breakfast…

What’s new?

Loads – starting with the name. While rumours that the Gallardo replacement was to be called the ‘Cabrera’ (Spanish for ‘goat herder’ apparently) proved false, the new sports car at least follows the tradition of being named after a bull. ‘Huracán’ is a Spanish Conte de la Patilla breed of bull, ‘known for his outstanding courage and attack’, according to Sant’Agata.

The exterior design, says Lambo, emanated from a single line to define its profile, and both in and out the hexagonal theme, which go back as far as the Lamborghini Reventon, looks as though the Gallardo met the Aventador in a dark alley. It’s not as wild as the recent limited-run Venenos (nothing is…), but there’s LED lighting, of course, and hexagonal window junctures backing up the crisp, firm lines.

Sitting on the same Modular Sports car Chassis (MSS) as the forthcoming, second-gen Audi R8, the Huracán’s aluminium spaceframe is super rigid, and even if it doesn’t go quite as nuts as big-brother Aventador with the carbon fibre, it still weighs around 30kg less than the equivalent Gallardo. There’s also more power and a shiny new gearbox…

So less weight, more power and more speed?

More, more, more – you bet. With 601bhp (610 is in PS, don’t forget), the Huracán’s 5.2-litre V10 – a development of the same unit used in the Gallardo and Audi R8 – packs 41bhp more than the last ‘regular’ Gallardo, and still has a fistful more than the ballistic 562bhp Squadra Corse.

The Lambo will roast the lot in the run from 0-62mph, now a claimed 3.2sec – 0.2sec up on a Ferrari 458 Italian, matching the Porsche 911 Turbo and half a second better than the LP 560-4’s ET. It still trails the McLaren 12C by 0.1sec and the stunning Ferrari 458 Speciale by yet another, but this is the very first iteration of the Huracán…

The new seven-speed twin-clutcher LDF (Lamborghini Doppia Frizione) channels 413lb ft of torque to all four wheels for a 0-124mph time of 9.9sec… Top speed? A Gallardo-matching 202mph, where you’ll thanking Lamborghini for fitting ceramic brakes as standard.

What about the cabin?

We’ve seen just one image of the interior, and it takes the hexagonal-edges and layers a step further. Gone are the chrome switches of past Lambos, with Audi-style rubbery interfaces and similar stylish chunky-wheel to the Aventador, as well as a colour digital instrument cluster. Following in Ferrari’s footsteps, the Huracán does away with indicator and wiper stalks for steering-wheel buttons, with a more stylised version of the Aventador’s wheel.

Also on the wheel is the switch for the three modes – Strada, Sport and Corsa – which alter the dynamic steering feel, throttle and magnetic dampers. Nappa leather and Alcantara feature heavily, with a design that’s supposed to offer a new ‘lightness’ to the inside, but we’re already eyeing those long paddleshifters, which will give access to the sequential ’box at seemingly any angle or speed…

When can I get one – and how much?

We’ll see the Lamborghini Huracán at the Geneva motor show in March, before it goes on sale in Spring 2014 starting from an expected £180k.